ACTU Secretary Sally McManus has condemned Australia’s workplace laws as incapable of providing gender pay equity after a Fair Work Commission decision against two unions seeking equal pay for early childhood educators.

The case, brought by United Voice sought a pay rise for early childhood educators, who currently earn as little as $21 per hour.

The Fair Work Commission dismissed the application, which sought to use metalworking industry classifications as a basis for comparison. There is still one application Independent Education Union that the Commission is yet to decide on.

The ruling for early childhood educators has ramifications for working women across all industries, but in industries such as aged care, where the majority of the workforce are women.

Early childhood educators have walked off the job several times as part of their Big Steps campaign for equal pay, with another walkout planned for March 27.

Quotes attributable to Sally McManus, ACTU Secretary:

“This decision is proof that our current laws and institutions are incapable of addressing the gender pay gap.”

“This decision sets working women back 30 years in their pursuit of wage justice. Our current laws are not capable of addressing the issue.”

“Women’s work will continue to be undervalued unless our broken rules and institutions that govern the lives of working Australians are fixed.”

Worksite

Union Aid Abroad

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is the overseas aid and development agency of the ACTU. Our work aims to build self-reliance through support to educational and training projects for workers and their organisations in the developing world.